1. Tears flowed down his cheeks though he tried to restrain them,
His heart was stricken with passion and softly sighed.

2. I tried to stop my tears but they flowed on stubbornly,
Tears are stubborn when one tries to hold them back.

3. Farewell my eyes that sleep takes, farewell,
While you leave my heart forlorn and distressed.

4. My life was lowly and humble for a year
Until suddenly it was overturned and awakened.

5. The new moon was veiled by the crescent, and they bent,
So it sadly departed with farewells.

6. The guide shook the rein and the camel driver
Shook the camels’ necks likewise.

7. They sent their glances to the branches
And from the gaze of their eyes to the stretch of horizon.

8. They appear unveiled like the shining sun,
Veiled and like the new crescent their faces.

9. Free from any likeness in its beauty,
I became free of any fault through it.

10. It granted wishes and forbade crying,
Greetings for what the beloved granted and forbade!

11. How can one reach wishes with it as intercessor
When its noble countenance rules?

12. Its glances are its swords, and its teeth
And its teeth, if they judged against us or for us.

13. How much did I suffer from a blamer in his love
Who became most stubborn in dispute, confused.

14. The confused one struggled so I restrained him,
Pulling the reins back from blame, bewildered.

15. How much did I deter the reckless one but he did not understand,
And I forbade him to awaken but he did not stop!

16. Truly, I find my sickness with him most delicious,
And from misfortune what is delicious and craved.

17. I dwelled by an unknown ridge
That folds up the confused thoughts.

18. I saw it bare its light in the night,
The full moon rose on its horizon like a torch.

19. It brought its clouds with its flashing lightning,
And the living cried out in rapture at its rumbling roar.

20. You are carried to the endless sea, O Muhammad,
He who, by God’s hand, opened doors to success.

21. By Al-Kamil bin Al-Adil Al-Mansur he called,
When he called him, the call echoed joyfully.

22. O king, without whom in the world
None would resemble his father in creation.

23. Damascus boasted over the lands gracefully
With Muhammad in its prime of beauty.

24. Like when Muhammad came to Yathrib arriving,
An emigrant hosted, and hosted in turn.

25. He came perfect in character like the sun
That rises fully - no, more than fully risen!

26. The rider of desolation keeps him awake for the realm,
Never ceasing to awaken and arouse him.

27. Good fortune met him in Yemen - hopes were not vain
Nor did the priest struggle in what he judged or became weary.

28. With him came the opening of all conquests, whitened,
Though from the enemies it blackened faces.

29. With weakened resolves, the youth terrified,
Busy with seriousness, distracted from anything else.

30. So incline to him with rare determination
Through which from enemies you obtain what you desire.

31. Kingdoms have certainly become, in your hands,
Stopping because of you, like the high seat and howdah.

32. All the kingdoms are gardens - no, lotus trees -
And with you is the refuge for it and the end.

33. You are suns - no, shining planets -
While others are like the Pleiades and Suhail.

34. Your charities have maintained your kingdom;
Among you none for an hour refrained from them.

35. No wretched cheat bares his teeth in a grin
From his prominent jaw, gurgling and choking.

36. One day with a greater massacre than him, when
The drawn swords will not turn back from him in flight.

37. He promises rewards, fulfilling his promises,
Never stinting to repel catastrophes and calamities.

38. Take them completed in argument from mouths
That have surpassed in eloquence of speech all mouths.

39. Praise which if deaf rock heard
It would gain hearing and chant its verses, singing them.

40. When the repeating minstrel sings it in an assembly
Inanimate things would stir - if they could - and shudder.